Tornado settles for tie in Bend

BEND — North Medford's boys soccer team battled Bend in a physical, back and forth affair before settling for a 1-1 tie in nonconference play Saturday.

BEND — North Medford's boys soccer team battled Bend in a physical, back and forth affair before settling for a 1-1 tie in nonconference play Saturday.

Garrett Byrd provided the Black Tornado with a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute, but the Lava Bears answered two minutes later. Neither team could convert after that, with Bend's goalkeeper finishing with 10 about saves and North Medford's Matt Van Horn pulling in about eight saves, according to Tornado head coach Michael Belzberg.

"It was one of those type of games with a lot of shots but not a lot of goals," said Belzberg, whose team moved to 1-0-1. "It was back and forth. Both keepers did a fantastic job, it was really a defensive struggle and a good challenge for both teams."

On Byrd's goal, he possessed the ball about 40 yards out and then wound up beating a pair of defenders before flicking a shot into the net.

"It was a really good run," added Belzberg.

SOUTH MEDFORD 2, MOUNTAIN VIEW 2 — Alejandro Cortes scored on a nice finish off of a long throw-in by Rene Cabrera in the 79th minute to allow South Medford to salvage a tie in nonleague play.

The Panthers (1-1-1) opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Adrian Calvillo buried a shot from about 25 yards out after Mountain View failed to clear a corner kick by Travis Mobley.

Mountain View answered with a goal by Zach Emerson in the 35th minute and then another by Mario Torres in the 65th.

THURSTON 6, CRATER 0 — At Springfield, Thurston continued its early season tear as it sent Crater to a season-opening road loss.

The senior midfielder was able to get his goal on a lob pass by Trenton Anderson from 40 yards out to square the score at 1-all. Grants Pass moved to 0-1-2.

The Generals (0-0-1) got their goal in the 10th minute of action.

ASHLAND 2, KLAMATH UNION 1 — At Klamath Falls, Ashland opened the season with the nonconference win.

Stopper Gabe Young scored in the 10th minute for the Grizzlies, dribbling through several defenders on a solo effort. Late in the first half, halfback Chris Fuller headed in a shot off a pass from Stanley Graham.

Klamath Union's goal was in the 73rd minute.

Ashland has an interim coach, Abdiaziz Guled, while regular coach Brad Roupp takes a year off.

EAGLE POINT 7, ILLINOIS VALLEY 0 — At Eagle Point, Tyler Wannamaker led Eagle Point with two goals, both in the second half, as the Eagles recorded a shutout in nonconference action.

Kevin Van Dyke and Ronaldo Rincones scored first-half goals while Brock Wilson, Victor Gomez-Mata and Genaro Martinez all netted in the second half.

Junior goalkeeper Jonel Quintero made three saves for the Eagles (1-0-1) who owned possession of the ball despite the high-energy efforts of Cougars' standout midfielder Keith Lewin, who stymied many of the Eagles' upfield advances.

PHOENIX 2, NORTH MARION 2 — At Aurora, Phoenix squandered its opportunity for a shutout after North Marion scored twice late in the second half to pull even for a nonconference draw.

The Pirates (0-0-1) built a quick second-half lead with a goal in the 48th minute by Eli Espana and another by Guadelupe Flores two minutes later. Espana netted from 10 yards out on a setup from Jose Ascencion, while Flores scored on a header on a cross from Alex Vela.

After North Marion scored in the 66th minute, Alejandro Herrera leveled the score 2-all with just five minutes remaining.

ST. MARY'S 2, MAZAMA 0 — At Klamath Falls, St. Mary's evened its record at 1-1 with the nonconference win.

Midfielders Michael Gambee and Alec Robertson teamed up for a goal in the 15th minute, Gambee doing the honors from 8 yards out.

The Crusaders added to their edge in the 62nd minute when Tracy Salgado took a pass from Hunter Rothfus and delivered it to the back of the net.

William Lee, playing sweeper for the first time, and defender Jeremy Wu were key in preserving the lead.